Automatic window-closure.



PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

'1. LEE.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLOSURE.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1905.

rue/1725555 NITED STATES Patented ma 30, 1905,

THOMAS LEE, OF HOME CITY, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW-CLOSURE- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 791,036, dated May 30, 1905. Application filed March 16, 1905.Serial No. 250,433.

To all whom it na/y concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS LEE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Home City, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Automatic Window-Closures; and I do declarethe following to be a clear, full, and exact description thereof,attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the referencecharacters marked thereon, which form also a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in meanswhereby the closure of a window may be automatically effected by theheat generated from a fire where it is desirable that it be done at suchtime to prevent further spread of a fire. Such devices are generallyused in connection with fire-resisting windows -that is, such windows asconsist of metallic casings and sash-frames, usually filled withwire-glass.

The object is to close them automatically upon the occurrence of afire,since otherwise that is, when remaining open-they would be useless intheir function to resist or retard the spread of a fire.

The invention is obviously not confined to such a closure or to aclosure constructed as above outlined.

The invention is shown as applied to a swinging that is,pivotally-supportedwin dow or sash; and it consists of the means andtheir construction hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows in vertical sectiona window constructed with sheet-metal sashes and casings, the upper sashbeing pivotally supported and provided with the device of my invention.Fig. 2, in parts of a similar view, the sash, however, being not insection, shows this latter held open by the device of my invention. Fig.3, in a similar view, shows how the device operates in case of fire forthe purpose of automatically closing the window. Fig. 1, in a top viewof the device, and Fig. 5, in a front elevation, show those parts of mydevice which are attached to the sash.

In the drawings, 10 shows the upper sash of the window pivotallysupported at 11 in the window-frame, the connection being at the sidesof the sash and between the upper and lower rail thereof. 'Thearrangei'nent is such that that part of the sash below its pivot isheavier than the part above, so that normally the sash would closeautomatically against the upper part 12 of the windowframe. This normaltendency to close may be obtained by weighting the lower part of thesash or by placing the pivotal connection above the center thereof. Onthe upper rail 13 of the swinging sash there is pivotally supported alocking-dog 14%, the support being most conveniently,'by a bracket 15,attached to said rail. To the upper part 12 of the window-frame there ispivotally connected by a hinge 16 a locking-bar 17 its location beingsuch that normally it lies on top of bracket 15 and against the upperend of the lockingdog. This latter is so arranged as to its shape andlocation of the pivot that that part below its pivot is heavier, so thatits upper end remains normally in contact with the under side of thelocking-bar and seeks constantly contact therewith. W'hen now by meansof a pull-chain 18 on said dog the sash is swung open, the upper end ofthis locking-dog will slide along the under side of the locking-bar, thetwo remaining constantly in contact, the bar following the-dog becauseof its hinge connection and by reason of its weight. When the upper endofthe dog arrives below an opening 19 in said bar, of which openingsthere may be one or more, said bar will drop and engage said dog. Actionon the pullchain is simultaneously terminated, permitting the upper endof said dog to rise and fully pass into such opening. The sash is nowheld open, as shown in Fig. 2. To release the sash for closing, a shortpull is given at chain 18 in a vertical direction to draw the upper endof the dog out of the opening it occupies, after which, while the dog isso held out, the window is permitted to swing into its closing position,as shown in Fig. 1. By providing another opening in bar 17, similar toopenings 19, to permit the locking-dog to again engage the bar, as shownin dotted lines at this point, these parts may also serve to lock thewindow in its closed position. This is, however, not essential, andother means may be used for this purpose.

To insure permanent alinemen-t of bar and dog, it is preferable toprovide guiding means, which is done in shape of a guide 21, throughwhich bar 17 passes, and which guide is hingedly attached to bracket 15,so that it may follow and adjust itself to the motion of the bar andprevent interference with the free sliding movement thereof, whereby itfollows the dog.

Automatic closure of the window in the open position shown in Fig. 2 iseffected by having a part of bar 17 of a material which is susceptibleto destruction by heat at a certain temperature, such part (shown at 22)being preferably located as high as possible, thus being quickestaffected by the heat of a fire, which naturally would pass through theopen part of the window. In detail this destructible part may consist ofa piece of fusible metal attached to one of the wings of hinge 16 and tothe end'of bar 17. It may of course 'be'also at any other part of thebar provided it is so located as to be within the open part of the sashwhen the same is in the position shown in Fig. 2, or the entire bar orhinge 16 might be of fusible metal. If now by reason of beat thisconnection is destroyed, it is clear that the function of bar 17 as oneof the complementary means for holding the window open is eliminated,and thus the latter drops at once into its closed position.- To preventall possible interference by thisbar after its disconnection and toobtain quick action, its lower end is weighted, as

shown at 23, so that this end will drop at.

once, causing the bar to tilt and slide down in guide 21, which byreason of its hinged connection adjusts itself to the motion of saidbar. N otches in the latter would of course be the equivalent of theopenings shown.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. In means to be used inconnection with a pivotally-supported window or analogous structure, forthe purpose of holding the same in a certain position within its frame,the combination of complementary locking-members consisting of a bar anda dog, each pivotally supported, one being attached to the window andthe, other to the frame surrounding the same, perforations in said baradapted to be occupied by the dog when the parts are in operativeposition and means for manipulation.

2. In means to be used in connection with a pivotally-supported windowor analogous structure, for the purpose of holding the same in a certainposition within its frame, the combination of complementary lockingmembers consisting of a bar and a dog each pivotally supported, onebeing attached to the window and the other to the frame surrounding thesame, and adapted to engage each other when in operative position, aportion of said bar being of a material susceptible to destruction byheat and means for manipulation of the device.

3. In means to be used in connection with a pivotally-supported windowor analogous structure, for the purpose of holding the same in a certainposition within its frame, the combination of a locking-bar pivotallyattached to a stationary object, a locking-dog pivotally attached to thewindow and adapted to engage the locking-bar, guiding means to hold themin position with reference to each other for engagement and means toeffect or terminate such engagement.

1. In means to be used in connection with a pivotally-supported windowor analogous structure, for the purpose of holding the same in a certainposition within its frame, the combination of a locking-bar pivotallyattached to a stationary object and being in part constructed of amaterial susceptible to destruction by heat, a locking-dog pivotallyattached to the window, guiding means to hold them in position withreference to each other for engagement and means to effect or terminatesuch engagement.

5. In means to be used in connection with is pivotally supported, aguide for the locking-bar hingedly attached to the bracket mentioned andwhereby the locking-bar is held to the window in a manner to be capableof en-. gagement by the locking dog in all positions.

6. In means to be used in connection with a pivotally-supported windowor analogous structure, for the purpose of holding the same in a certainposition within its frame, the combination of a locking-bar pivotallyattached to the window-frame and being in part constructed of a materialsusceptible to destruction by heat, a locking-dog carried by the window,a bracket whereby it is pivotally supported, a guide for the locking barhingedly attached .to the bracket mentioned and whereby the locking-baris held to the window in a manner to be capable of engagement bythelocking-dog in all positions.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS LEE.

